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Enhancing Boating Efficiency

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Robust and versatile hull to gain maximum energy efficiency

Cutting costs and environmental impact while enabling long-range electric boats and ferries

Hull

A unique hull shape minimizes water resistance

The AirHull features a distinctive shape with a cavity underneath. As the vessel picks up speed, this air cavity fills with air, effectively reducing the boat's resistance by lifting the hull slightly out of the water.

Fan

A fan injects air to lift the vessel

A lift fan, positioned at the bow, pumps air into the cavity, generating overpressure that lifts the boat partially out of the water. This fan is optimized for energy efficiency, low noise, and minimal weight, while ensuring steady air pressure and flow.

Enclosure flap

A flap extends to seal off the air cushion

The air-filled cavity is secured by a hinged flap at the aft, which extends to maintain the air inside the cavity, ensuring optimal performance of the air system.

Advantages

The AirHull system offers superior energy efficiency

CAPEX savings

You can choose smaller equipment for your boat due to lower power needs. Smaller motor, charging station, boat size and much more.

OPEX savings

AirHull reduces the energy needed over the lifetime of the vessel, significantly reducing your energy costs.

Saving the environment

Lower energy needs means lower emissions. And pairing the AirHull with an electric powertrain makes perfect sense and means you can go zero-emission.

Longer range

Airhull vessel
Conventional vessels
You can achieve more with less

For an electric AirHull boat this means roughly doubling the electric range. If you chose a conventional fuelled AirHull boat you can increase the range before you need to tank the boat.

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Features

The AirHull platform is versatile and can be customized to meet different needs

Propulsion system #1
Propulsion system #2
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Propulsion system #4

Compatible with standard propulsion systems

Flexible system

Our AirHull technology can be seamlessly integrated with various propulsion systems, including outboard and inboard motor, providing flexibility for different vessel designs and performance requirements.

Hydrogen cell

Compatible with different energy carriers

Fuel freedom

The AirHull is compatible with multiple energy carriers, such as battery electric systems, gasoline engines, and hydrogen fuel cells. This adaptability allows for a range of sustainable and conventional power options to suit different operational needs.

Fibreglass texture

Expansive build possibilities

Flexible Material Selection

The AirHull can be constructed from a variety of materials, including fiberglass, carbon fiber, and aluminum. This versatility in materials ensures that the hull can be tailored to specific performance criteria, durability requirements, and cost considerations.

Scalable to various boat sizes

Scalable AirHull platform

AirHull can be applied to boats ranging from 6 to 30 meters in length.This wide range of applicability makes it suitable for diverse maritime needs,from small recreational boats to larger commercial vessels.

Join us in creating a greener future

Contact us today or book a demo with one of our vessels!

What we deliver

We specialize in providing AirHull technology to boat builders

Intersted? Contact us for collaboration

Our partners

We work closely with boat builders from design to construction to ensure the vessel achieves the expected performance with minimal design implications. While the drivetrain is not our product, we leverage our expertise in propulsion units and energy carriers to support boat builders with integration. Our systems and the control system are seamlessly integrated with the chosen powertrain.

We are not a boat builder and we do not design the top side of the vessel. This is typically the responsibility of the boat builder.

The pastel boat in action
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The ride control system is fully automatic, eliminating the need for manual operations. Our user-friendly interface allows users to choose between different modes and monitor energy consumption at all times.
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Over-the-air software upgrades

The vessel software is updated through over-the-air updates, and the boat’s performance improves throughout its lifecycle!

Multiple sensors

The boats are equipped with sensors streaming operational data. This enables our engineers to continuously log and analyze operational data and work on it to train and improve the system.

Our core deliveries for an AirHull vessel include:
Hull lines

Optimized hull design for high energy efficiency.

Ride control system

Ensures optimal performance at all times.

AirHull hardware

Includes the fan and flap systems for air lubrication.

Installation support

Offers assistance and training to ensure proper installation and function.

Our process

The step-by-step process of a project with us

01
Use case and feasibility
Photo of Pascal Team Member working on 3d assets of vessel boat

In this initial stage, we gather the customer's needs and conduct a feasibility study to determine if the vessel and its intended operational profile is suitable for AirHull technology. We estimate the energy savings potential and consider other customer preferences such as choice of material, propulsion system, energy carrier, speed, and more.

02
Quotation and timeline
Per, Maria og Rehn snakker

In this stage, we provide a detailed quotation that outlines all project costs, covering design, engineering, and construction. Alongside this, we develop a clear project timeline, ensuring that all phases align with your schedule and expectations, paving the way for smooth execution.

03
Design and engineering
Woman working on technical data on a computer in the office

We proceed with the detailed design and engineering work in close collaboration with the customer. This involves customizing the AirHull technology to meet specific requirements and ensuring optimal integration with the vessel’s systems.

04
Construction and assembly
A technical worker at Pascal Technolgies smiling while working with electrics

Pascal oversees the construction and assembly phase to ensure the AirHull system is built to specifications and standards. We work with trusted partners to construct the hull and integrate the propulsion and energy systems seamlessly.

05
Sea trials, testing, and tuning
Pastel Boat calm at sea, isometric view

During this phase, we conduct sea trials to test the vessel's performance and fine-tune the ride control system. This includes continuous improvement through over-the-air software updates to ensure maximum efficiency and performance.

Additional Services

Consultation, customization, and support

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Consultation

We guide you through the entire process

Our experts provide detailed consultations to help you understand the benefits and feasibility of integrating AirHull technology into your vessels. We guide you through the entire process, from initial assessment to final implementation.

Technical team member smiling and looking at camera

Support

Pascal offers comprehensive support services

Pascal offers comprehensive support services throughout the vessel’s lifecycle. We provide remote diagnostics to ensure maximal uptime and efficiency. Additionally, we push over-the-air updates, continually enhancing the vessel's performance over its lifetime.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Pascal AirHull work?

The AirHull is a system that enables planing boats to move more efficiently through water. It works by using an air-filled cavity in the boat’s hull that reduces the resistance by separating the hull from the water. The system uses a fan to compress air into the cavity, which creates an overpressure that lifts the boat partially out of the water. This technology is similar to traditional Surface Effect Ships (SES), but the Pascal AirHull is unique because it uses a special hull design and a flexible flap system to keep the air inside the cavity. The system is controlled by a ride control that ensures the boat moves smoothly and efficiently.

What are the main benefits of the Pascal AirHull?

The main benefit of the AirHull is reduced total power consumption at planing speeds compared to traditional hulls. Compared to planing monohulls we see 30-50% less energy consumption at planing speeds.

For instance, our fully electric 27m, 150 pax ferry design has been found to have 30% less consumption than a traditional diesel driven catamaran at 35 knots, even though it carries significantly more weight due to the battery system. (Read more about the design here.)

These numbers are based on the total power consumption of both the propulsion system and fan. The energy consumption of the fan makes up about 5-15% of the total energy consumption depending on the speed.

How can you prove the energy savings?

Our energy savings are verified in towing tank tests and by several full scale prototype vessels. Three of them being an 8m fully electric leisure boat (2022),  20m fully electric ferry concept (BBGreen 2016), and a diesel-driven 17m workboat (2016), which have been tested and provide us with detailed information on the performance of our AirHull technology.

The model test campaigns have been conducted at SSPA in Sweden and Marintek in Norway. These tests provide us with accurate data on the performance of our technology. We also use in-house performance prediction tools based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to design and optimize the technology for specific applications and operations.

The combination of model test campaigns, numerical simulations, and prototype testing allows us to effectively demonstrate the energy savings that can be achieved with our technology for any given vessel and ensure that future designs perform as expected.

Which propulsion and battery configurations can be integrated to the Pascal AirHull?

Our AirHull is designed to be versatile and can accommodate various energy carriers, including batteries, fossil fuels, or hydrogen. However, we are committed to the development of fossil-free solutions and have been focusing on electric propulsion and battery system.

The AirHull is adaptable to different propulsion units, including pods, stern drive, and we are also exploring the possibilities of integrating outboard motors, shaft and water jets. Our goal is to provide a customizable hull platform that aligns with the specific needs and preferences of the end user.

What software do you use in your boats?

The software that runs on the boat is developed inhouse by Pascal. The software automatically controls all functions related to the AirHull. This means that the captain does not have to operate any extra systems compared to a regular boat. The software connects the boat to our Pascal cloud system, allowing remote monitoring and over-the-air updates even after delivery. This enables a boat that improves over time.

Can your hull be built in aluminum?

Yes, our hulls are easily constructible and can be constructed in any material; aluminum, glass or carbon fiber or wood for that matter. It all comes down to what makes sense for the specific operation and application and is typically a trade-off between cost, weight and operational aspects.

What application areas are relevant for the Pascal AirHull?

The efficiency gain from using our AirHull is primarily realized in planing speeds. We work with planing boats in all segments focusing on boats ranging from 6 meters to about 30 meters in length. We already have ready-made concepts for various applications such as fast ferries, work boats, and leisure boats.

What is the top speed and corresponding range?

As a general note the top speed is not limited by the hull technology. As a matter of fact, surface effect ships in general have often been chosen due to their efficiency at very high speeds. A key parameter to why the Norwegian navy chose it for their Motor Torpedo boats.

One of the main challenges going electric is providing ample range due to low energy density of batteries. A higher top speed will increase the size and weight of the propulsion systems and lower the efficiency, and in effect range. Hence, we typically design vessels with top speed of 25-35 knots, even though our technology could serve higher top speeds.

As the range is tightly connected to the weight of the battery configuration and payload there is not one single answer to what range we can achieve. As an example our workboat concept of 12 m and 6-10 pax payload achieves up to 40 nautical miles in 25 knots with the current propulsion and battery setup, with a top speed above 30 knots. Our 27m electric ferry manages 80 nautical miles on one charge at 36 knots, and is designed to operate a route of 40 nautical miles.

What does Pascal Technologies deliver?

Pascal Technologies delivers an AirHull. The platform consists of the hull lines, air technology, along with the ride control system that regulates and optimizes the performance of the vessel. We can and have already integrated additional components such as propulsion units, batteries, and motors with our ride control system.

Read more about our process and deliveries here.

How can boat builders implement Pascal’s AirHull technology?

We work closely with boat builders and designers to integrate our AirHull technology into their concept. Pascal will be involved throughout the design and construction process to ensure that the vessel achieves expected performance. The AirHull system cannot be retrofitted on an existing hull because the hull lines are specifically designed to make the platform perform optimally.

Read more about our process here.

What are the maintenance requirements for boats using AirHull technology from Pascal?

The maintenance needs for a Pascal AirHull will be similar to that of traditional hulls. The ride control system is designed with functionality for over the air updates making it possible to continuously improve the performance of and fix software related issues. The AirHull consists of two moving parts, the fan and the flap, which are designed to be robust and reliable and we expect normal service intervals for these components.

In general electric boats require less maintenance than fossil powered boats (similar to electric cars). The electric drivetrain consists of components with fewer moving parts. This leads to lower need for replacement of worn parts and lubricating oil. The mechanical parts of the drivetrain such as traditional pods and stern drives  are expected to have similar performance and maintenance needs as fossil driven boats. Other maintenance on hull, interior, and outfitting, will be the same as for traditional boats.

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Have any further questions? Do not hesitate to contact us, we will gladly answer your questions.